I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to get padded underwear. My saddle is a hard seat and made for a man so I can’t drop my thigh down as much as I like. So I can’t really take any weight on my inner thigh, it puts all my weight in my butt even though I ride with my legs under me not out in front of me. I’d sell it and buy another one except my horse likes this particular gullet and tree angle and she goes so well in it. I may end up having a new ground seat put in it but in the meantime I’m looking for some type of padded underwear that won’t ride up and won’t give me any more derriere than I already have. I sit heavier on my right seat bone and consequently have a hole in it that I actually have to put a gel patch on with a waterproof bandaids over top just to tolerate sitting in the saddle. Any undergarment/butt padding suggestions are welcome. Thanks in advance.
There are seat pads for riders in western saddles --my husband uses one when he rides as he doesn’t ride often enough to have a tough butt. But as an old skinny woman who has never had much natural padding between me and the saddle, I’d consider a different saddle. Riding is supposed to feel good, not painful. And that is for both horse and rider. Surely there are saddles that would have a similar fit to your horse and be more comfortable for you. I had a saddle with an Association Tree that rode exactly like my dressage saddle. Currently I use an inexpensive Western Saddle that I use an extra blanket on horse over (very expensive pad) to keep the saddle off his high withers. Trainer said that it fit well enough with the extra blanket and not to buy a new saddle. I do have to remember to tent the pads into the cantle to keep his withers comfortable. The saddle fits my other two fat low withered QH so I won’t by another one.
Before you get anything permanent, try the old doubled towel.
Start with a hand towel doubled or tripled, see where exactly some extra seat would help.
Change things around, ride in different situations, use a smaller bath towel if the hand towel is not large enough to feel much difference.
Once you see if you really need padding under your seat bones, or a little narrower seat, the seat feels better with the towel mostly behind, not under you, a little more to the twist, the towel helps you more if filling in front of our seat bones where the thigh fit, etc., then you will know more where to add or take away.
Some times, even a saddle with other swells, A-frame, bigger, longer, cut under swells can make a difference.
Sport shops have all kinds of bicycle seat savers, some built in shorts, some you add to the seats, some that fit saddles.
If you have to do much riding, I would keep looking for a saddle that fits both best, horse and rider.
For a few rides a week, then saddle savers, towels, padded undies, any such can be of use.
I had trouble getting used to western saddles, thought I needed something that looked more like an English saddle.
E-frame types like the Mc Call seemed just right, until I tried several of those and nope, that was like riding like a bump on a log.
Others that were sold as being balanced as an English type saddle were the Monte Foreman of old, but those also didn’t quite fit me and the one I bought started to fall apart in two years under hard use.
Go figure, I ended up doing best in modified association lady’s 95 tree, or basic, double padded reining saddles.
A close second Will James and Tucson trees.
Each rider is built so differently, while we adjust and ride fine in any decently made saddle, some just fit better than others.
I would keep in mind that, when we start looking for something better, we may surprise ourselves that is not quite what we thought we needed.
I know how it is when you finally find a saddle that fits your horse. We as the riders tend to “put up” with things because we know the horse goes well in the saddle!
I guess I’ve never looked, but I guess I have no idea if they make such a thing as padded underwear.
What about something like this for your saddle?
Yeah, looks like you have a pretty slick saddle without much padding. While I’ve got plenty of booty, I’m not comfortable in saddles that don’t have at least a little padding on the seat.
I’d try a pad for the saddle first. Maybe the one linked above, or a nice fleece sheepskin pad. Otherwise some cycling shorts have padding in them.
There are underwear made for riders with padding in them. You can check out Pony Tails Sportswear. Some of my riding pals have them and like them, but I don’t know that I’d drop $80 for a pair. You may be able to find a pair of bike shorts that’ll work under jeans or pants for less. A pad for the seat may be your cheapest option.
Beau, I did buy a Toklat fake sheepskin seat cover which will work for now. Found it used for $12. I got it mainly to protect the seat of the saddle from my monel stirrups because I tie them up when I trailer my horse tacked up. I refuse to carry that heavy saddle out to the trailer every time I take her somewhere. Of course I’m dead in the water right now with the weather. I did invest in a pair of Pony Tails today. Waiting for them to come. They had a 10% off special and they were still $72 but I figure if they wear well I can just wash them out every day that I ride and make do with just the one pair. People seem to swear by them so I’ll let you all know when I give them a trial. Got the hot pink ones just for fun.
Beautiful saddle. For me the padding solution was Andiamo underwear. Tried many different things and, bingo, the Andiamo’s worked the best for me. I wear a women’s medium under a men’s medium. The men’s have a slightly larger pad. Although I wear two it does not feel bulky to me. They are very comfortable. Much better than bike shorts although they are also meant for cyclists.
Cla, I will have to look up the Andiamos. What size jean are you? Are the andiamos true to size or do they run small/large?
Maude - The Andiamos ran very true to size. My hips are 37" right now. I’m a little out of shape. I’m usually a 36" hip. I’m between sizes right now. Usually wear a 6 but have been wearing 8’s. Have a pair of Wrangler Q-Baby’s that are 7/8’s. They are a bit baggy on me. The medium Andiamos have plenty of room. I think they would fit if I were a little bigger or a little smaller. I like things loose so went with the mediums but they are plenty stretchy. If I were only going to buy one pair of the Andiamos I would go with the Men’s. They have a little bit bigger pad. More coverage front to back. I wear them under breeches. Usually Irideon’s, Saddlebums or Tropical Rider’s.
Hope that helps.
Have you tried the Derriere Equestrian range. Riders swear by them and I love mine. All sizes, lots of styles & available all over the world. www.derriereequestrian.com let me know what you think of these?
